Cable fitting



Oct. 22, 1929. c JOHNSON 1,732,581

CABLE FITTIQG Filed Oct. 51. 192'? Elk ji 60% Lxlalmsolz.

Patented Oct. 22, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLVIN t. :omwson, or an. Louis, msso'om; .rnssm w. JOHNSON :sxncurmz; or

SAID GOLVIN I4. JOHNSON, EDEGEAS cum FIT-ruse application filed October a1, 1927. Serial No. stares.

lhe present invention relates in general to r a cable or rope fitting and a method of applying the same to the end of a cable, and more particularly to a threaded cable end fitting adapted to be screwed onto the end of a steel vvire cable or the like. a

ln the installation of steel cables and the like, it is at present necessary to employ relatively expensive and cumbersome apparatus M to apply fittings to ropes or cables. This means that the installer must carry around With him trom place to place the special appa ratus tor applying the cable fitting to the the cable being tor-med into a thread corresponding with that oil the fitting.

cable. In many instances l have observed m that hydraulic mechanism is employed tor anchoring the fitting to the end olf the cable. .@bviously the use out such mechanism adds considerable to the cost oi installing the steel cables and is in addition a nuisance to the a installer inasmuch as generally it cannot be used tor any other purpose.

Moreover, l have found that the present types oi cable fittings areunsatis'lactory and are not capable of withstanding very great at tensile strains. ln tact, in a plyin the present type of littin "s to the ca le ends the steel vvires in the ca le ends are quite trequently damaged and thus have a detrimental edect upon the longevity ot the cables. in so many cases heat is used to apply the cable fittings to the cable ends so as to cause a flow oil metal about the strands ct Wire at the end of the cable. This method is unsatislactory tor the reason that the heat tends to,

at render the endsot the steel vvires brittle, thus melting them subject to cracking when the cables are under strain. l propose togirovide a cable fittingwhich maybe applie to the end ot a steel Wire to cable with tacility and without the necessity oil any special apparatus. l a so contemplate the provision of a fitting adapted to be applied to the cable end by the means of conventional tools, such, for examat ple, as a bench vise and a suitable Wrench;

An object of my invention is the provision of a hi hly simple and inexpensive cable fitting adapted to be applied to the end of. a

steel wire cable with facility and in a minimum at time Still another object ol the invention has 7 to do With the provision ot a fitting adapted to be lorced upon the end of a steel wire cable in such a manner that threads are termed on the end of the cable .vvithou't cutting the steel vvires or strands ot the cable.

it turther object oil my invention is to provide a cable litting ada ted to be applied to the end of a steel Wire cable in such manner that the .rip ot the fitting on the cable Will approximate the tensile strength of the cable itselt. t

tlther objects and advantages ot my inven tion will more lully appear rem the tollovr ing detailed description talren in connection with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates several embodiments thereolr, tmd H which Figure l is a fragmentary sectional vievv partly in elevation showing my novel fitting applied to the end ot a steel Wire cable; lligure 2 is a tragmentarysectional vievr partly in elevation, at a modified tor-m ot the W hitting; I

l i ure 3 is a vertical sectional view talien stantiall the line ill-dill oi Figure 2 looking in t c direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is a Era entary sectional view ot'another modification of my invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional on the line V-V of Figure t;

Fi re 6 is a fraentary sectional view W vievv taken of sti 1 another medication of the invention;

the direction indicated by Figure 7 is'a vertical sectional viewtahen on the line VII-VII of Figure 6 looking in the arrows Figure Sis 9. sections vation of a further modification of the invention; and

Figure '9 is asectional view of a modified form of fitting.

On the drawings:

View partly in ele- 95 1 Like reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views.

The reference character 10 designates generally a steelwire cable which may include the conventional core of hemp (not shown) and a spiral winding of steel wires 11. Mounted upon one end of the cable 10 shown in Figure 1' is a cable or rope fitting 12 embodying the features of my invention. This fitting comprises a tubular member or sleeve provided with an internal thread 13. It is applied to thecable end by screwing it thereon. I

In applying the fitting 12 to the cable 10, the cable is gripped in a suitable bench vise adjacent the endv which is to receive the fitting, and the fitting is screwed onto the cable by means of a suitable pipe or monkeywrench.

It will be noted that the fitting 12 includes a hexagonal portion 14 designed to be gripped by the wrench. Now as the fitting 12 is screwed upon the end of the cable 10 it forms a s iral'thread 15 in the outer surface of the spi al winding of steel wire 11. This formation of the thread 15 is due to the pressure exerted by the fitting 12 upon the end of the cable. Of course it is to be understood that the end of the cable 10 is slightly comressed as the fitting 12 is applied thereto.

' hen to it -is to be noted that the, thread 15 does notresult in the cutting of the wires composing the winding 11. I purposely avoid cutting the wires by making the bottom of the grooves of thread 13 of fitting 12 round in cross-section, as shown in Figure 1. This means that as the fittin 12 is screwed upon the end of'the cable 10 it causes the portions of the steel Wire winding 11 to be forced into the grooves comprising thread 13 without cutting the strands of steel wire.

' Now I have found from experience that the gripping action of the fitting 12 upon the cable end 10 is such that it approximates the total tensile strength of the cable itself. Hence in practice, should an excessive force be applied to cable 10, the cable is more likely to-break before it could work loose of the fi tin 12.

I rom the foregoing it will be evident that due to the simplicity of the fitting 12 it can hexagona be manufactured very economically in large quantities and moreover, it is adaptedto be applied to the cable end with facility in a minimum of time and with the conventional tools usually available where such cables are to be installed.

In Figures 2 and 3 I have illustrated a modification of my invention wherein the fitting 16 is a plied to the end of. the cable 10 in mucht e same manner as the fitting 12 was a plied tothe cable 10 shown in Figure 1. e fittin 16,'however includes not only a l nut portion 17, but also includes a split portion 18 having its outer periphery steel wire 11 on the cable 10.

In other words, the nut 21 serves to augment the bitin action of thread 22 of fitting 16 upon the ca 1e 10. This construction may be used where the cable is to be subjected to relatively great strains while in use.

In Figures 4; and 5 I have illustrated a third modification of my invention in which the fitting 12 is identical in construction to the fitting 12 shown in Figure 1 and is applied to the cable 10 in exactly the same way. as the fitting was applied to the cable in Figure, 1. The same reference characters are used in these two Figures, 4 and 5, as well as. in Figures 6 and 7 ,as were used in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figure 1.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 4 and 5 a part of the hemp core 9 is removed from the-cable prior to the application of the fitting. This may be done by unwinding the wires comprising winding 11 of cable 10 and by then cutting off a portion of the core, or by drilling out the core. Now, before or after the fitting 12 has been applied to the cable a steel pin 25 is inserted in the cable end to take the place of the hemp core removed therefrom. This pin is forced into the cable end and serves to wedge the steel wire winding 11 into tighter engagement with thread 13 of the fitting.

In Figures 6 and 7 I have illustrated anto that shown in Figures 4 and 5, but differ ing" therefrom in that it is not necessary to remove any part of the hemp core. After the fitting 12 has been applied to the cable 10 in a manner such as that described in connection with the form of the invention shown in Figure 1, a long conical screw or pin is threaded or driven into the core 9 of the cable 10. This screw or pin 30 also serves as a wedging means for forcing the steel wire winding 11 of the cable into firmer engagement with the thread 13 of the fitting 12.

Now it will be evident that either of the wedging devices shown in Figures 4 and 6 may be applied to either of the cable ends shown in Figures 1 and 2 depending upon the construction desired and upon the conditions to which the cable is to be exposed.

In Figure 8 I hav,e illustrated a further modification of the invention wherein the tubular member or sleeve is provided with an internal thread 34, an outer thread 36 and with two tapered ends 37 and 38. Each tapered end isslotted as indicated at 39 and ,other modification of my invention similar tilt 37 --38, is a nut 41-42.' An intermediate or central portion ofthe sleeve is formed in tegral with it, and hexagonal nutportion 43 which serves as'a means whereby the fitting may be gripped in a wrench or the like. This fitting is'applied to the end or other part of the cable on which a fittingis requiredby merely inserting the cable into .the fitting. lit will be evident that by thereafter tightening the two nuts 41 and 42 the slotted ends 37 and38 will be forced into engagement with the periphery of the cable. Obviously the tighter the nuts are threaded upon the tapered ends 37 and 38 the greater will be the pressure exerted by the fitting upon the cable. The internal thread 34 of this fitting will form a thread in the cable in the same manner as the fitting shown in Figure 1.

The fitting 12 shown in Figure 9 is identical to the fitting shown in Figure 1 with the exception that one of its ends is countersunk as indicated at so as to facilitate the threading of the cable into. the threaded opening 13' oi the fitting. Since this fitting is in every other respect identical to that shown in Figure it it is thought that no further description need be given of it. p

Also, l wish to call attention to the fact that in certain instances,,ii it is so desired, the cable may be tinned prior to the application of fitting thereto. @f course, it willbe evident that the tin will augment the holding of the wires'together. Thereafter the tinned surface of the cable may be threaded with a common th'readdie such as iswell lznown in the art. Subsequent to this threading action,

suitable fitting may be screwed onto the threaded surface of the cable.

lit is of course to be understood that although it have illustrated and described in de tail the preferred embodiments of my invention, the invention is not to be this limited but only in so far as defined by the scope and spirit oi the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

it. The process oi applying a cable fitting to anend of a cable whichconsists in securing the fitting onto the end of the cable and contemporaneously forming a thread in the outer periphery oi the cable conforming to the thread oi the fitting without cutting the cable by said fitting.

it. The process of applying a threaded fitto the end oi a steel wire cable which con in screwing the fitting onto the end oi the cable and contemporaneously forming a thread in the outer periphery oi the steel wires comprising the cable without cutting the steel wires. y

ll. The process of ap lying a threaded litting to the end ofa ca le which consists in the cable by said fitting, and thereafter causing the formed cable end to be more tightly engaged by the fitting.

4. The process of. applying a threaded fitting to a cable end which consists in forcing the fitting upon the end of the cable contemporaneously forming a thread in the outer periphery of the cable by the fitting without cutting the cable, and thereafter wedging the U cable into tighter engagement with the thread of the fitting.

5. The process of applying a threaded fitting to a cable end which consists in forcing the fitting upon the end of the cable contemporaneously formin a thread in the outer periphery of the cable %y the fitting without cuttin the cable, and before or after inserting we go into the core of the cable to force the periphery of the cable into firmer engagement with the thread of the fitting.

6. The process of applying a cable fitting to the end of a cable which consists in forcing the fitting upon the end of the cable con temporaneously forming a thread in the outer periphery oi the'cable by said fitting conforming with the thread of the fitting, wedging the fitting into tighter engagement with the threaded portion of the cable and and wedging the periphery oi the cable outwardly into firmer engagement with the thread of the fitting.

7. As an article oi'manufacture, a cable end fitting, comprising a sleeve adapted to be gripped by a wrench for rotation and having a thread formed on its inner periphery in cluding a plurality of rounded grooves, said thread being adapted to form the end of a cable by the rotation oi said sleeve without cutting the strands of the cable.

8. in combination, a cable, a cable end fitting comprising a sleeve mounted upon the end oi the cable, and means including a thread formed in the inner periphery of the sleeve ior forming the end of the cable without cutting the strands thereof upon the rotation of the sleeve on said cable, said formed cable end having a thread on its periphery formed by the sleeve and corresponding with the thread in said sleeve.

9. in combination, a cable, a cable end fit ting comprising a sleeve mounted upon the end of the cable, means including a thread formed in the inner periphery of the sleeve for forming the end of the cable without cutting the strands thereof upon the rotation of the sleeve on said cable, said formed cable end having a thread on its periphery formed by the sleeve and corresponding with the thread in said sleeve, and means for wedging the sleeve into tight engagement with the cable end after the sleeve has been threaded on the cable.

10. in combination, a cable, a cable end fitting comprising a sleeve mounted upon the end of the cable, means including a thread formed in the inner periphery of the sleeve for forming the end of the cable without cutting the strands thereof upon the rotation of the sleeve on said-cable, said formed cable I 5 end having a thread on its periphery formed by the sleeve and corresponding with the thread in said sleeve, and means for wedging the sleeve into tight engagement with the cable end after the sleeve has been threaded on the cable, said latter means comprising a nut threaded upon a slotted portion of the sleeve for forcing said portion into tighter engagement with the cable.

11. In combination, a 'cable, a cable end fitting comprising a sleeve mounted upon the end of the cable, means including a thread formed in the innerperiphery of the sleeve for forming the end of the cable without cutting the strands thereof, said formed cable end having a thread on its periphery formed by the sleeve and corresponding with the thread in said sleeve, and means for forcing the cable outwardly into tighter engagement with the sleeve comprising a wedge element 5 forced into the center of the cable end and disposed in substantial alignment with the core of the cable.

12. In combination, a cable, a cable end fitting comprising a sleeve mounted upon the end of the cable, means including a thread formed in the inner periphery of the sleeve for forming the end of the cable without cutting the. strands thereof, said formed cable end having a thread on its periphery formed by the sleeve and corresponding with thethread in said sleeve, means for wedging a portion of said sleeve into tighter engagement with the cable end after the sleeve has been applied thereto, and means for wedging the cable outwardly into tighter engagement with the fitting.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at St. Louis, Missouri.

COLVIN L. JOHNSON. 

